The need for greater internet governance capacity in Africa has been widely recognised for a long time. APC was part of a study, published in 2002,  that explored the depth of this challenge: Louder voices: strengthening developing country participation in international ICT decision-making. Since then many initiatives have tried to respond to this challenge, mostly aimed at specific groups or sectors. The idea of an annual school on internet governance that brings together individuals from different sectors and stakeholder groups was inspired by the European Summer School on Internet Governance, founded by Prof. Wolfgang Kleinwaechter in 1997 in Meissen, Germany.

In mid-2012 Titi Akinsamni, a Nigerian internet policy expert, then responsible for "Internet Policy and Knowledge Management" at the LINK Centre at the University of the Witwatersrand, approached Emilar Vushe Gandhi and Anriette Esterhuysen from APC and Towela Nyirenda Jere from the NEPAD Agency with more than an idea for an African school on IG; she had developed a concept note and secured partial financial support. Titi's passion and commitment galvanised APC and the NEPAD Agency to get into action mode.

When the call for applications went out a year later, with only a very small window for applications (about two weeks), we were overwhelmed by the response... more than 300 applications. Little did we know that by 2016 this number would be above 800!

Thus the 1st AfriSIG took place in Durban, South Africa, in July 2013 (immediately prior to ICANN 47), organised jointly by APC and the NEPAD Agency. Present as faculty members were Prof. Wolfgang Kleinwaechter and Titi Akinsamni.

The people named here as AfriSIG founders did not work alone. Many individuals contributed to the launch and ongoing growth and evolution of this inspiring initiative. We thank them all for their ideas, energy, financial support, critical feedback and, in particular, for their time and interest.